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MONGOLIAN WILDLIFE

Zavkhan aimag, A place too stay for a travelers

Zavkhan, a beatiful place that embraces all natural zones, is located ih the western part of Mongolia and surrounded by khovd ans Uvs province from west, Republic of Tuva from north, Khovsgul and Arkhangai province from the east and Bayankhongor and Gobi. The province covers 82000 sq.km, has the populattion of 76000 people and is located 1104 km from Ulaanbaatar. The aimag is located in the western rocky part of Khangai mountain range and has extreme continental climate. The highest peak is Otgontenger mountain (4031m). The province has many rivers such as ider, Zavkhan, Tes, Khangai, many branches of these rivers, many beatiful lakes khar nuur, Telmen, Oigon, Tsavdan and Kholboo as well as many recreation centers and spas like Bayanzurkh, Zart, Tsetsuulh, Otgontenger, Ulaan khaalga, Borbugas and Dayan that were set up based on mineral waters as Otgontenger, Bayanzurkh, Ulaankhaalga, zart and khojuul. The area has a lot of precipitation. Though tough tourism and agricultural are underdevelopment in this area.

Bulletin points
The best and upmost
•The aimag has cold winter in Mongolia. The average temprature in Jan is -20-20C. There were times when the temprature in Tsosontsengel has reach -53C and it is common that is drops -40C in tes soum.
•The aimag has the largest trerrotory covered with sand. The western and south-western part of aimag is covered with great sands of Mongolia and Borkhiar sand dunes that stretch out of 100-200 km.
•Zavkhan has largest reserves of winter in Mongolia having almost 200 fast flowing rivers and streams, and around 100 large and small lakes. The aimag has water resources for hydroelectric power.
Different colors of the beatiful nature
Otgontenger holy mountain
Otgontenger, a mountain with permanent snow and the king peak of khangai mountain ranges, is elevated at the height of 4021 meters from above sea level and is surrounded with deep forest, has plenty of fast flowing rivers and lakes, is rich with natural places with unique formation, rare plants and animals, and has many places with mineral. Otgontenger had been worshipped since 1779 and in 1911, Bogdo Khan’s Mongolia had bad enacted a law to worship it year. As This tradition was revived in 1922 as a result of which the mountain and its surrounding area covering 955sq.km was announced as a special protection area and since 1955 it has been worshipped once in every four years in accordance with the President’s decree. Just below the border of permanent snow of Otgontenger, there is a beatiful lake Badarkhundaga on the slope of the mountain and within the territory of the protected area. Here grow extremly rareflower vansemberuu and Mongolian arnica and moreover, very famous Otgontenge juniper.
Dayan holy mountain
On the west to Otgontenger, there are two mountains evelated at the height of 2500 meters over the sea level-ikh Dayan and Baga Dayan. There grow such rare plants of Otgontenger region such as vansemberuu, heather, roseroot, globe-flower and many others that are used in medicine. On the top of Dayan mountain there is a flat area which has taikhar stone in center. From the top of the mountain, Altai mountain range, Mongol sands and other places can be easily seen. Dayan mountain has a well-known spa center with hot mineral waters.

•Size location: 41,600 hectares just south of Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, Tuv province.

•Established: 1778 as order of Manchurian King. Protected area reestablished 1978.

Bogdkhan Mountain Strictly protected Area is Mongolian oldest nature preserve. (since year 1778). Located on southern edge of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. Steppe covers preserve’s lower reaches, giving way to forest steppe, and finallly to boulder fields and coniferous forest, the southermost extent of the Khentii taiga. Altough officially protected in 1778, Bogdkhaan was first recognized as a sacred mountain, where logging and hunting were prohibited in the twelfth or thirteenth century. The highest point of the protected area, Tsetseegun mountain ( 2268m above sea level), is one of four holly peaks that surround Ulaanbaatar.

One of the south side of the protected area, monks have begun the process of rebuilding Manzhir Hiid monastery. Established in 1750, the monastery housed more than 350 monks and 20 temples, including schools of medicine, astrology, and philosophy, before it was destroyed in the 1930’s. Several temples have been reconstructed. Numerous archeological site have been discovered in the preserve, including cave paintings that archeologists date to three thousand years ago.

Species here are characteristic of taiga, mountain forest steppe, and steppe zone, including over 500 species of vascular plants, 9 trees, 47 mammals, 116 birds, 4 reptiles, and 2 amphibians. Five mammal species-including musk deer, roe deer, sable, and mountain hare-are endangered or threatened- as are 20 birds species, and 16 species of plants.

Some 70 families, including reserve rangers, live in or adjacent to the protected area. Also increasing numbers of Mongolian and foreign tourists visit Bogdkhaan. The area includes hiking trails close to downtown Ulaanbaatar, an astronomical observatory, overnight accommodations at the Nukht Ecotourism Center, and tourist facilities at Manzhur Hiit monastery. Before visiting the core protected are (for example, the mountains south of Ulaanbaatar), visitors must obtain Tax fee.